Page 85 of Crystal Luna

‘We’ll cross that bridge once we’vespoken to Vel.’

‘If she even talks to us at all.’

Isaiah shared Ash’s pain. He wanted to be close to her, but it seemed that Vel would rather be anywhere else. Her cabin was dark and quiet, and it appeared as though she hadn’t been there for at least a few hours.

Ash growled in frustration, his hands balling into fists.

“She might be out for a run. Heath said she likes spending time out in nature,” Isaiah reminded him.

“And what are we supposed to do? Sit around like idiots and hope she returns to us?”

“That might be our safest bet.”

“Fine, but let’s at least get food. I’m fucking starving.”

“Maybe we’ll have time to call Ely after all.”

They returned to their guest house for lunch to pass the time. They would return to Vel’s cabin that evening in the hopes that she’d decide to head indoors once the sun set. Isaiah was the one to answer the phone when it began to ring.

Though before he could speak, Ely beat him to it. “Are you two finally letting me in on whatever you’re doing out there while I keep your pack alive and well. You were supposed to be back by today. Now I have to keep nosy people at bay because I don’t even have a fucking clue what you two are doing.”

“We found our mate,” Isaiah revealed.

There was a moment of silence while Ely processed the information. “We? That means you both share the same one?”

“Yes.”

“So, you’re happily fucking like rabbits and didn’t even tell me?”

“Shit, I wish that’s what’s taking us so long,” Ash groused.

“What do you mean?”

“We were passing the Howlers when we scented her. So, we asked Alpha Heath if we could stay overnight on their territory. We found Vel—alive and well. But she won’t accept us.”

“What? She’s alive? And your mate?”

“Yes.”

“How the fuck…”

“We don’t really know. She’s refusing to talk to us—or be anywhere near us for that matter.”

“Doesn’thelp that her alpha can’t keep his fucking hands to himself,” Ash spit out.

“Slow down, I can’t keep up. Vel is alive, she’s your mate, and Alpha Heath is… fucking her?”

“It seems that they’ve had a relationship the past few years,” Isaiah explained, hoping to calm them with a soothing tone.

“And now he’s not letting her go or what?”

Ash shot to his feet and began to pace the length of the room. The entire situation was driving him mad. He wanted her so desperately and not being able to be with her was pulling at his strings.

Isaiah sighed and shook his head. “She doesn’t want to leave with us. She’s barely looked us in the eyes and confirmed the bond. We hurt her and now she’s refusing us.”

“Damn… But she’s coming home now?”

“We leave in a few days. She has a life here so Alpha Heath has asked us to give her time to say her farewells.”

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